As medical oncologists in the Calabasas and Woodland Hills area, Dr Lashkari, Sr Shaye and I are often asked about smoking cessation, especially when a diagnosis of cancer is made.
Smoking cessation is very important to reduce the risk of cancer. Smoking and smokeless tobacco are related to no less than 15 types of cancer.
About 70% of smokers want to quit smoking, and about half try to quit each year. However, less than 10% succeed, in part because less than one-third of smokers who try to quit use proven cessation treatments.
Seven FDA-approved medications include five forms of nicotine replacement therapy: the patch, gum, inhaler, nasal spray, and lozenge, as well as two non-NRT medications, bupropion SR (brand name Zyban if used for tobacco cessation and Wellbutrin if used as an antidepressant), and varenicline.
More commonly, vaporizers and e-cigarettes have had an increase in popularity, and remains unregulated by the FDA. The liquid that is prepared by vaporizer shows or "vape" stores often contain nicotine, and maybe safer than cigarettes, but long term data is lacking. That said, there was a recent article which was enlightening to other risks. Nicotine is a potent stimulant and can be very harmful in its purest form, which is how it is packaged in vaporizers. Liquid nicotine is absorbed through skin, and so poisoning can occur just by handling the liquid.
See the link below for this interesting article. Our patients and their families and loved ones have our support in their personal fight against smoking.
